DNA testing

[lauraandlee]

Hiya,I asked the breeder I am having my green cheek conure Jet from about DNA testing I was interested in finding out what sex my conure. Has anyone had this done? Breeder told me that vets here in uk charge £44. However she is able to do it using a vet for £14. I think its worth it for that price. Just wondered peoples thoughts about it???

 

[roxynoodle]

When I first had Rowdy done it was just because it was important to me to know what she was, given I would have her a long time. I've since found other good reasons to know, and for your vet to know:

You might someday bring home another conure, and some can hybridize, so having birds of the same sex prevents that should you decide to let them live together.

Your female bird needs extra calcium in case she lays eggs.

You vet will know to look for egg binding if you have a female.

One of my birds has a disease for which hormone shots help lessen symptoms.

Birds can develop cancer of the ovary or teste and knowing gender could help the vet know what to feel for during an exam.

 

[lauraandlee]

Did it cost u a lot to DNA
I just converted £14 into us dollers $22

Thats what I thought if I do it now at least we will always know

 

[roxynoodle]

I think here it is about $25 so that sounds on par with what we are paying. I had Rowdy done almost 12 years ago so I can't quite remember now what I spent. My other conure was done by the breeder and included as part of the price of the bird. Merlin was done by her previous owner, and Pete has not been done, but he is fully mature (and then some) and he is quite obviously male in his hormonal behaviors. If you live with them long enough you'll figure out if they are boys or girls.

 

[Wulfgeist]

My Green cheek is about 6 years old and I never did a dna test. I call him he but I'm not 100%. I've never caught him/her doing anything sexual to know for sure though I have heard it and the behaviour stops when I look. (busted!)

Now my Grey I did have dna tested. They offered it where I bought him for $25 and I would rather know, if not just to call him proper but too for reasons like Roxy mentioned. Some people say "meh it doesn't matter" but if your bird gets sick, yeah maybe knowing the gender can help if something listed above is the cause.

 

[roxynoodle]

I don't know if they give male and female birds the same hormone shot to lessen their hormones, but I doubt it. So had I not known which Merlin was, we probably would have had to wait on a DNA test to give her that shot to lessen her Bornavirus symptoms. Being hormonal is part of what exacerbates symptoms, so that shot was important for her health. I don't want her having seizures or having poop stuck in her intestines, so in her case it was good I knew right away she was female.

 

[Mayden]

I got a dna test because I wanted to be certain Merlin was a he before naming him Merlin for good, I can't handle cross gender names. My baby girl is NOT going to be called John for example! Not if I can help it!

Then there's all the health benefits that have already been listed. But I'd just like to know more about my bird, he is going to be with me for a long time and I'd like for all my records just to know exactly what he's like.

Oh we also paid around £40 for microchip, dna and nail trim.
So not sure exactly how much the dna testing cost.

+ I selected yes in the poll, but I would never not take a bird because of it's gender, whether it's known or not. It'd just help me be more prepared for things such as egg binding etc.

 

[stephend]

I don't know if I would do it. Bob did not lose her pearling (is that a word?) making her female. Delilah was known by coloring.

 

[Joeyx]

i'd love to do it whenever possible but since this country doesn't have the equipment
or whatever..... i have to pay $150 for it to be shipped to south africa or something,
and then wait a month for the results.

so basically, i just don't do it.

 

[lene1949]

I previously had a number of birds, and I had them all DNA sexed... I won't bother with Max... he's an Alexandrine.... and if he's a male, his colouring will start to show before maturity.

My 2 conures are also DNA sexed...

It's easy and cheap to do...

 

[oled]

I payed $40 for a bloodtest

 

[oled]

I payed @40 for a bloodtest

 

[lauraandlee]

Picked up Jet yesterday and the DNA test revealled that he is a BOY!!!

 

[mcw009]

I'm the only person who voted "no" and I feel awkward about it haha. I guess "don't care" would possibly be more accurate but I'm not really sure what the difference is...

Anyway, I voted that way because the species I own exhibits sexual dichromatism, and he had full adult plumage when I got him, so a DNA test would pretty much be a waste of money for me.